Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE THOMAS Y. VOOLFORD, OF ROMNEY, YV EST TIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,741, lated lrcbrllul'y ll, H573.

To all whom fit may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS Y. WooLroRn, of Romney, in the county of Hampshire and State of Vest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reaper and Mower, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l, Sheet 1, is a detail vertical section of my improved machine taken through the line :v fr, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of arrow 1. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a detail vertical sectionof the saine taken through the line y y, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of arrow 2. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a top view of the same. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a detail section of the drive and master wh eels, showing their relative position. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a detail view ofthe wheels for the outer end ofthe cutter-bar. Fig. 6,V Sheet 2, is a detail view of the wheel or roller for the inner end of the cutter-bar.

l Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention belongs to the class of machines so constructed as to be adjusted for use as reapers or mowers, and as front-cut or rear-cut machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of certain parts of the machine, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

A is the frame of the machine, with the central forward part of which the tongue B is connected, and in bearings attached-to the middle.' parts of the side bars of which the axleG revolves. D is the right-hand drivewheel, which is made of a little larger diameter than the drive-wheel B, to give a central draft to the machine. i The central part of the drive-wheel D upon its inner side is recessed to receive the ratchet-wheel E attac-hed to the axle O, upon the teeth of which the spring-pawls F, two or more, attached to the said drive-wheel D, take hold, so that the drivewheel D may act as an auxiliary to the drivewheel H. To the outer end of the hub or central part of the drive-wheel D is attached a pulley, G, to drive the reel when the machine is adjusted as a reaper. H is the main driving-wheel, which revolves loosely upon the end of the axle C, and which is made with an inwardly-projecting rim to form a recess to receive the master-wheel I, which is attached to the axle C. The master-wheel I is made with an inwardly-projecting rim, upon the outer surface of which are formed notches, upon which take hold spring-pawls J, attached to the inner side of the rim of the drive-wheel H. `Upon the inner surface of the rim of the master-wheel I are formed teeth, into which mesh the teeth of qthe pinion-wheel K placed upon the end of the shaft L. In. the outer side of the gear-wheel K is formed a slot or groove to receive a cross-head attached to or formed upon the end of the shaft L, so that the said gear-wheel may carry the said shaft L with it in its revolution. By this construction, by moving the gear-wheel K inward sufficiently to remove it i'rom the crosshead of the shaft L, it will revolve loosely upon said shaft. lThe gear-wheel K i's moved back and forth upon the shaft L, to throw it out of and into gear by the lever M, the rear end of which rides in a groove in the wheel K. The lever M is pivoted to the frame A, and its forward end, which extends forward into such a position that it may be convenientl y reached and operated by the driver with his foot, is bent downward to enter holes in the platform attached to the frame A, to hold it securely in either position. The shaft L extends across the fra-me A, revolves in bearings attached to the side bars of said frame, and to it is attached a gear-wheel, N, the teeth of which mesh into the teeth ofthe small gear-wheel O attached to the driving-shaft P. The gear-wheels N O are covered and protected by a box or casing, Q., as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The shafts L 1D and axle G are parallel with each other. The shaft P is placed a little below and in the rea-rof the axle C, revolves in bearings attached to the side bars of the frame A, and to its end is attached a balance-wheel, R, which serves also as a crankwheel for the bar S that drives the sickle-har. Tis the shoe, to which the inner endfof the finger-bar U is detachably bolted, several boltlholes being formed in the shoe, so that the various parts connected with the shoe can be readily adjusted to adapt the machine for a front or rear cut. V is the sickle-bar, whichwibrates upon the linger-bar in the ordinary manner. lW is a bar, strap, or plate, which is Vsecured. to the linger-bar U, and overlaps the sickle-bar V to prevent the said bar V from being clogged or having its movements impeded. Upon the inner end of the sickle-bar V is forlned a socket, fr', to receive a flattened ball formed upon the end of the arm of the clbow-lever X, which is secured in said socket by a set-screw, as shown in Fig. 3. The bent lever X. is provided at its angle with pivots, thelower one of which works in a step'in the shoe T, and the upper one in a cap attached to said shoe. Upon the end of the other arm of the elbow-lever x is formed a ball, which enters and Works in a socket, s', into which is screwed the end of the driving bar or pitman S, which thus serves as a setscrew to keep the socket s' in place upon the ball of the bent lever X. In the upwardly-projecting inner part of the shoe T is formed a long socket to receive the end of the guide-rod Y, the other end of which is pivoted to the forward part of the frame A.

This is the arrangement when the machine is adjusted for a rear cut. 'hen the machine is to make a front cut the rod Y will be pivoted to the rear end of said frame.

Y' is the draft-bar, the forward end of which is pivoted to a support attached to the frame A, and upon its rear end is formed a loop or eye, which is inserted in a notch in the guiderod socket of the shoe T, and through which the guide-rodYpasses, as shown in Fig. l. Z is a cross-rod, on one end of which is formed a loop or eye, which is inserted in a notch vin ythe guide-rod socket of the shoe T, so that the guide-rod Y may pass through it. The other cnd of the cross-rod Z is pivoted to the end of the frame A near the other side, or to a support attached to said frame. To the rod Z, at or near the shoe T, is attached the end of a short chain, A', the other end of which is attached to the segment of a pulley, B', attached to or formed upon the lever C', which is pivoted to the side bar of the frame A. The free end of the lever C' extends forward into such a position that it can be readily reached and operated by the driver from his seat to raise the shoe T and finger-bar U and its attachme'nts awa-y from the ground for convenience in passing obstructions. To the shoe I is attached a lever, D', by operating which the shoe T can be turned upon the guide-rod Y to raise the finger-bar into an upright position for convenience in passing` from place to place. The lever D' is provided with a hook, E', which, when the finger-bar has been raised Vinto an upright position, may be hooked into the frame A, or into a support attached to said frame, to hold the said linger-bar in position. The tongue B is pivoted near its rear end to the forward end of the frame A. To the rear end of the tongue B is pivoted the lowervend of the bar F', the upper end of which passes through a slot in the lever G' and Lis pivoted to said lever by a pin, several holes being formed in the bar F' to receive the said pin, so that it may be adjusted as required. H' is a curved guide-bar, the lower end of which is attached to the frame A or to the platform attached to said frame. The upper end of the bar H' passes through a slot in the upper part of the lever G', and has several holes formed in it to receive the spring-lever catch I', attached to the upper part of the lever G', to secure the said lever in place' when adjusted. This construction allows the cutter-bar to be readily adjusted toworlr closer to or further from the ground, as may be desired. The master-wheel I and the pinion-wheel K are covered and protected by a cap or plate, J', which is secured to the side bar of the frame A, enters the recess of the wheel H, and is made with an inwardly-projectingflange, which overlaps the rim of the master-wheel I. The cap J' is made with a small door to give access to the pinion-wheel, when desired. K' is the driver's seat, the standard of which is attached to the frame A, or to the platform attached to said frame. L', Fig. 5, is a small wheel or roller, thestandard or box of Awhich is designed to be attached to the shoe T when the machine is adjusted 'for a front cut. M', Fig. 5, is a caster-wheel, which is designed to be attached to the divisionfinger when the machine is to be used-as a reaper.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The arrangement ofthe spring-pawls J, gearwheel I, pinion-wheel K, shaft L, and gearwheels N O, with respect to the recessed drivewheel H, axle C, frame A, and driving-shaft P, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS Y. WOOLFORD.

Witnesses:

C. S. WHITE, WM. C. CLAYTON. 

